The Young Montalbano: Room Number Two (2/2)

This week’s episode started with Montalbano and his fiancé out on a stroll when a fire breaks out in a nearby hotel. On rushing over we discover, to our horror, that a man is trapped inside. Dashing inside our hero tries to rescue him but it is on use, the fire is too intense. As it transpires, arson was the cause of the fire. The team launches an investigation but are thwarted at every turn.

Suspects are inquired into but to no avail. Even the Mafia comes under suspicion (The Cuffaros and Sinagras are the two rival factions in this part of Sicily) when another man dies a couple of days later. There is of course, a link but it’s more complicated than that.

On top of this, Montalbano and Livia (his fiancé) are getting married. The ceremony in all its intricacies needs to be planned and everyone, from bumbling Catarella (seen doing some embroidery at one point) upwards, wants to help. ‘Mimi’ Augello’s diaphanous attempts to be Montalbano’s witness leads to disaster when he picks a former colleague instead.

After what happened next, I was rather disappointed that Montalbano did not get his own back, but I guess he could not upset such a delicate project so quickly.

While I did struggle with this one (mainly through reading subtitles although the plot does have many twists), there was just enough light hearted moments mixed with drama to keep me hooked until the end.

This is what I love about these series, the addition of humour adds something missing from our ‘pure’ dramas. Don’t get me wrong, I like the odd drama, but it can feel a bit stressful after a while.